Chapter 560: Zixiao Thunder Sword Intent

Chen Mu’s heart stirred slightly.

This name seemed to have been recorded in the corner of some ancient book; he was a lone sword cultivator known for thunder sword dao, with a fierce personality, active around three thousand years ago, who once became famous for a time, but later disappeared without a trace.

"Correct, it is precisely that Zixiao Sword Venerable."

Hong Luan affirmed, "According to the reliable clues I obtained, and verified by multiple pieces of information, back then, Zixiao Sword Venerable fought fiercely with a strong enemy deep in 'Magic Wind Gorge' until the end, seemingly using some taboo sword move, or inducing heaven and earth thunder baleful energy."

"His final sword, or rather the most essential sword intent, did not completely dissipate, but combined with the special earth vein baleful energy of 'Magic Wind Gorge' and the lingering rhyme of the thunder he induced, leaving a sword mark several zhang deep and over ten zhang long on a cliff deep in the valley!"

"A sword mark?" Chen Mu’s gaze narrowed.

"Correct, not an ordinary slashing trace."

Hong Luan’s tone carried a hint of yearning, "That sword mark has withstood three thousand years of wind, rain, and baleful energy erosion without being worn away. Inside it contains the essence of the 'Zixiao Thunder Sword Intent' that Zixiao Sword Venerable exploded with at the very end."

"Adventurers who luckily survived from deep in 'Magic Wind Gorge' occasionally mentioned that approaching that sword mark within a certain range, one can feel a majestic, violent, yet carrying a terrifying sword intent pressure of punishing evil and breaking delusions, as if facing the peerless edge of that Sword Venerable back then."

"If one can observe and comprehend it up close, it has great benefits for martial artists who cultivate thunder methods and sword dao, especially those who comprehend 'fierce,' 'swift,' and 'evil-breaking' sword intents. It is said that a sword cultivator at the Earth Altar realm once sat cross-legged in front of the sword mark for several months, and their sword intent cultivation advanced greatly, even faintly touching the Heaven Palace threshold."

"However."

Hong Luan changed the subject, "That place is truly dangerous. 'Magic Wind Gorge' itself has a harsh environment, and poisonous insects and baleful energy are just appetizers. The closer you get to the sword mark, the stronger the residual sword intent pressure and chaotic thunder baleful energy, which puts great pressure on the mind and body. A moment of carelessness could result in being injured by the sword intent, or inducing the backlash of residual thunder baleful energy."

"Moreover, no one knows whether the strong enemy Zixiao Sword Venerable fought back then also left any backhands, or if the sword mark has produced any unpredictable changes after three thousand years of fusion with earth vein baleful energy. In short, opportunity and risk coexist."

Chen Mu listened quietly to the end, and he already had a judgment in his heart.

A sword mark containing the final sword intent essence of a Myriad Phenomena realm Sword Venerable, which had existed for three thousand years, its value was beyond doubt.

For him, who was in urgent need of tempering and improving his own sword intent, this was undoubtedly a clue with great attraction.

Moreover, Zixiao Sword Venerable’s "Zixiao Thunder Sword Intent," which focused on fierceness, swiftness, and evil-breaking, was also connected to the artistic conception of Heaven Fire Punishing Evil in the "True Martial Demon-Sweeping Sword Technique," so comprehending it might yield twice the result with half the effort.

"Is the information reliable? Is there a more precise marker for the specific location of the sword mark?" Chen Mu asked.

"I guarantee with the reputation of Hong Luan Star, the source of the clue is reliable and has been cross-verified by at least three parties."

Hong Luan said solemnly, "As for the specific location... the internal terrain of 'Magic Wind Gorge' is complex, and there are natural maze barriers, so I cannot give coordinates precise to the zhang."

"But I have a relatively detailed area map here, marking several azimuth intervals where the sword mark might exist, as well as several dangerous places and possible safe paths that need special attention along the way."

"This map is compiled by me synthesizing several survivor oral accounts and some ancient remnant maps, and the credibility is relatively high."

As she spoke, she transmitted a map image condensed by starlight, with detailed information, to Chen Mu through the "Star Token."

Chen Mu received it and quickly browsed through it.

The map was indeed quite detailed, with clear markings for the main terrain, baleful energy gathering points, poisonous insect nests, and suspected sword intent pressure radiation areas inside "Magic Wind Gorge."

Although it could not be guaranteed to be 100% accurate, as a guide, it was already enough.

"This information, plus this map, what is the value?" Chen Mu looked at Hong Luan.

Hong Luan pondered slightly and said: "The information itself points clearly and is indeed valuable to Heaven Palace realm sword cultivators. The map is also detailed. Taken together, it falls within the task reward range I accepted, belonging to the middle level. Wu Qu, you and I know each other, so I won't ask for an exorbitant price. Two hundred and sixty Star Points, how about it? This price is absolutely fair."

In the reward range of 200 to 500 Star Points, 260 Star Points indeed belonged to the middle level, but considering Hong Luan’s reputation, the detail of the information, and the additional value of the map, this price was also reasonable.

Chen Mu did not bargain too much and nodded crisply: "Okay."

Immediately, the two completed the transaction through the "Star Token."

The 400 Star Points that had just been credited to Chen Mu’s account a short while ago were instantly deducted by 260 and transferred to Hong Luan’s account.

And the complete information and map about the sword mark of Zixiao Sword Venerable in "Magic Wind Gorge" were completely received and stored by Chen Mu.

The transaction was completed, and Hong Luan seemed to be in a good mood, the mask seeming even more vivid, "Happy cooperation, Wu Qu. Wishing you great progress in sword intent! By the way, a reminder, 'Magic Wind Gorge' is also a famous dangerous place in Huanglong Circuit. Besides the dangerous natural environment, occasionally some desperate people or guys with ulterior motives will be active there, so be careful yourself."

"Thank you for the reminder." Chen Mu nodded slightly.

Hong Luan smiled, no longer spoke, her figure turned into a light red rosy light, fluttering away, disappearing at the entrance of the hall.

Chen Mu stood where he was, sorting out the information about "Magic Wind Gorge" and "Zixiao Sword Mark" in his mind again.

"Huanglong Circuit, Magic Wind Gorge, Zixiao Sword Mark... it is indeed a place worth visiting." Chen Mu made a decision in his heart.

Since the matter of the Sword Soul Strange Fire needed to be discussed at length, and the wind in the Nine Nether Sect was tight, taking advantage of this gap to go to Huanglong Circuit to comprehend the sword marks left by the Sword Venerable three thousand years ago and temper his own sword intent was undoubtedly an excellent choice to improve his strength.

No longer delaying, he confirmed the information and map stored in the "Star Token" one last time, his figure shot toward the door, and he returned to the Wu Wu Quxing Hall.

Huanglong Circuit, southwest border.

Chen Mu’s figure descended from the sky, landing in front of a steep valley entrance with jagged rocks and scattered white bones.

In front, two black mountain cliffs towering into the clouds, as if forcibly torn by great force, clamped a narrow, deep canyon that constantly spewed cold baleful energy outward.

The jagged rocks piled up at the valley entrance presented an ominous dark red, as if repeatedly stained by blood.

The air was filled with a strong scent of blood, decay, and a strange baleful energy that could erode true essence.

Spiritual sense probed into the valley, but after only a few dozen zhang, he felt bursts of needle-like stinging pain and stagnation, as if being weakened and polluted by invisible, sticky forces layer by layer.

Chen Mu’s expression was calm, his star robe fluttering slightly in the yin wind pouring back at the valley entrance.

He compared it with the map and information purchased from Star Lord Hong Luan, confirming that this place was indeed "Magic Wind Gorge."

The sword mark left by "Zixiao Sword Venerable" three thousand years ago, marked on the map, was deep in this canyon!